I. INTRODUCTION TO THE EUCHARIST (CCC...
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1 I. INTRODUCTION TO THE EUCHARIST (CCC 1322-1419) “We have come here to meet with the Heart of Jesus, pierced for us. Here we find the open fountain from which flow rivers of living water; here we find love and redeeming power.” (JPII, June 1, 1980) “It is necessary for the salvation of society to propagate the Eucharistic Reign of Christ. The Eucharist is the life of the individual and of all nations. We know well that an era of history prospers or denigrates itself in accordance to its devotion to the Holy Eucharist. It is the life and the fountain of its faith, its charity and its holiness. The Eucharist is essential for our personal lives and for the life of society because it is the very life of the world.” (Saint Peter Julian Eymard) A. The Source and Summit • The Eucharist is the “source and summit” of the Christian life. o Source – everything we have come from the Eucharist because it is Christ himself. It is the source of grace. o Summit – it is the “summit” or the mountaintop of all that we seek, since it is Christ himself. There is nothing greater to reach or anything higher to climb. o The Eucharist is unique in that it does not simply give grace, but it is Jesus Himself. • All the other sacraments, ministries, and works are bound up with the Eucharist and oriented toward it. (CCC 1325) o All other Sacraments lead to the Eucharist. o All works of the Church lead to the Eucharist. • In the Mass (the celebration of the Eucharist) and Eucharistic Adoration we are united with heaven. • "If souls but understood the Treasure they possess in the Divine Eucharist, it would be necessary to encircle the tabernacles with the strongest ramparts for, in the delirium of a devouring and holy hunger, they would press forward themselves to feed on the Bread of Angels. The Churches would overflow with adorers consumed with love for the Divine prisoner no less by night than by day." (Bl. Dina Belanger) • "Trust all things to Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament and to Mary Help of Christians and you will see what miracles are." - St. John Bosco B. Sacrament of Communion and Presence • God wants to be with us…. o He is not a distant God that looks down from on high to the little creatures running around here below. He loves us and wants to be with us, among us. § He did this first by becoming man, by living with us as another human being. § But it doesn’t end there. He stayed with us here in the Eucharist. He is always fully and totally present here on earth – Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity. o Matthew 28:20 – “Behold, I am with you always, even until the end of the age.” § These are Jesus’ last promise to us. § How does He fulfill it? In the Eucharist. • "This is the wonderful truth, my dear friends: the Word, which became flesh two thousand years ago, is present today in the Eucharist.” (St. John Paul II)
Transcript of I. INTRODUCTION TO THE EUCHARIST (CCC...
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I.INTRODUCTIONTOTHEEUCHARIST(CCC1322-1419)
“We have come here to meet with the Heart of Jesus, pierced for us. Here we find the open fountain from which flow rivers of living water; here
we find love and redeeming power.” (JPII, June 1, 1980)
“It is necessary for the salvation of society to propagate the Eucharistic Reign of Christ. The Eucharist is the life of the individual and of all nations. We know well that an era of history prospers or denigrates itself in accordance to its devotion to the Holy Eucharist. It is the life and the fountain of its faith, its charity and its holiness. The Eucharist is essential for our personal lives and for the life of society because it is the
very life of the world.” (Saint Peter Julian Eymard)
A.TheSourceandSummit
• TheEucharististhe“sourceandsummit”oftheChristianlife.o Source–everythingwehavecomefromtheEucharistbecauseitisChristhimself.Itisthesourceof
grace.o Summit–itisthe“summit”orthemountaintopofallthatweseek,sinceitisChristhimself.Thereis
nothinggreatertoreachoranythinghighertoclimb.o TheEucharistisuniqueinthatitdoesnotsimplygivegrace,butitisJesusHimself.
• Alltheothersacraments,ministries,andworksareboundupwiththeEucharistandorientedtowardit.(CCC1325)
o AllotherSacramentsleadtotheEucharist.o AllworksoftheChurchleadtotheEucharist.
• IntheMass(thecelebrationoftheEucharist)andEucharisticAdorationweareunitedwithheaven.• "IfsoulsbutunderstoodtheTreasuretheypossessintheDivineEucharist,itwouldbenecessarytoencirclethe
tabernacleswiththestrongestrampartsfor,inthedeliriumofadevouringandholyhunger,theywouldpressforwardthemselvestofeedontheBreadofAngels.TheChurcheswouldoverflowwithadorersconsumedwithlovefortheDivineprisonernolessbynightthanbyday."(Bl.DinaBelanger)
• "TrustallthingstoJesusintheBlessedSacramentandtoMaryHelpofChristiansandyouwillseewhatmiraclesare."-St.JohnBosco
B.SacramentofCommunionandPresence
• Godwantstobewithus….o HeisnotadistantGodthatlooksdownfromonhightothelittlecreaturesrunningaroundherebelow.
Helovesusandwantstobewithus,amongus.§ Hedidthisfirstbybecomingman,bylivingwithusasanotherhumanbeing.§ Butitdoesn’tendthere.HestayedwithushereintheEucharist.Heisalwaysfullyandtotally
presenthereonearth–Body,Blood,Soul,andDivinity.o Matthew28:20–“Behold,Iamwithyoualways,evenuntiltheendoftheage.”
§ TheseareJesus’lastpromisetous.§ HowdoesHefulfillit?IntheEucharist.
• "Thisisthewonderfultruth,mydearfriends:theWord,whichbecamefleshtwothousandyearsago,ispresenttodayintheEucharist.”(St.JohnPaulII)
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II.OLDTESTAMENTSCRIPTUREANDTHEEUCHARIST
A.Genesis22:1-18–AbrahamandIsaac
• AbrahamandthesacrificeofIsaac.
ParallelsbetweenAbraham/IsaacandFather/JesusABRAHAMANDISAAC GODTHEFATHERANDJESUS
Abrahamgoestosacrificehisonlyson,whomheloves
TheFathersacrificeshisfirstbornbelovedSon,whomheloves
GodasksAbrahamforatotalholocaustofhisson.
HolocaustofJesusiscompleteandtotal
Isaaccarriesthewoodonhisback Jesuscarriesthewoodofthecrossonhisback
IsaaccallsAbraham,‘myfather’ Jesus,intheGardenofGethsemanecallsJesus,“Father”
Isaacwillinglyofferedhimselfasasacrificeinobediencetohisfather.
JesuswillinglyofferedhimselfasasacrificeinobediencetohisFather
Isaacservesasapriest(onewhoofferssacrifice)andthevictim
Jesusservesasapriest(onewhoofferssacrifice)andthevictim
Isaacisbounduponthewood Jesusisnailed(bound)tothewoodThejourneyis3days–Thisisthe“passion”ofAbraham,knowingwhatistocome,thathewilllosehisson.
Jesusisdeadfor3days–the“passion”oftheFather,inwhichHe“loses”hisSon.
v.5–Itisanactofworship Christ’ssacrificeisanactofworshipofGodtheFather.
Godprovidedalambfortheholocaust.Abrahamnamestheplace“Godwillprovide”(v.14)
GodprovidedaLamb(Jesus)fortheholocaust
Theram’sheadwascaughtinthethornbush JesusworeacrownofthornsonhisheadAlambwasslain TheLambofGodwasslainIsaaclaidontopofthewood JesuslaidontopofthewoodoftheCrossAbrahamdidnotwithholdhisson GoddidnotwithholdhisSonThistookplaceontheMt.Moriah;thisbecomesthesightofthefutureTempleinJerusalem(2Chron3:1-2)
CalvaryinJerusalem(whereJesuswascrucified)isonMt.Moriah.
ThroughthedescendantsofAbraham,alloftheworldwillbeblessed.
ThroughJesus,allthefamiliesoftheworldareblessed.
• WhywouldGoddothis?WhywouldGoddemandthistypeofsacrificefromAbraham?Itisscandalousrequest
ofGod.ItseemsthatGodisplayingwithAbraham.§ HeisputtingAbraham’sfaithtothetest,givingupthethinghelovesthemosttoGod.
• Thisexplanationisnotenough.
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§ Thisisapre-enactmentofCalvary.ThisiswhatGodtheFatherwasgoingtodowithJesus.HeneededamaninAbrahamwithsuchgreatfaithtopre-enactwhatwouldonedayactuallyhappenwithJesus.
B.Exodus12:1-14,21-24,29-30–ThePassover
ParallelsbetweenthePassoverandtheLastSupper/CrucifixionTHEPASSOVER LASTSUPPER/CRUCIFIXION
TheangelofdeathslaysallthefirstborninEgyptexceptthosecoveredbythebloodoftheLamb.
TheangelofDeath(Satan)seekstokillus,whoareGod’schildren,unlesswearecoveredbythesavingBloodofChrist.
TheBloodoftheLambsaves ThebloodofJesussavesusLambhadtobewithoutblemish Jesuswaswithoutblemish(sin)A1year-oldmaleinprimeoflife Jesus:33yearsoldistheprimeoflife
Keptuntilthefourteenthdayofthemonth(Passover)
JesuswaskilledonthefeastofPassover.ThePassoverlambswerekilledatthesametimeasthecrucifixion.(Luke22:7-13)
Bloodisputonthedoorpostsandlintelsofthedoorofthehome(shapeofcross).Aswell,thisservesasapublicwitnessofbeingaJew.
BloodofChristonthewoodofthecrosssavesourhome(ofourbody).WearecalledtopublicallymakesignofcrossasawitnesstoourChristianfaith.
Killedintheevening Killedintheevening(3pm)Lambcouldhavenobonesbroken Theydidnotbreakhisbones(John19:31-
36)Lambmustbekilledandtheflesheatenwithbread
Jesuswassacrificedandfleshiseatenintheformofbread
Feasthadtobecelebratedperpetuallyeveryyear
FeastcontinuestodaythroughtheMass
WerememberbecauseofwhattheLorddidfor‘me’onthisday.EveryJewishparticipantwastoseeandrememberwhattheLorddidpersonallyforthem.
WerememberwhattheLorddidpersonallyfor‘me’inthesacrificeoftheCross.
• WhatistheroleofthelambduringthePassover?(Ex12:1-13)
o Thebloodwasasign;whentheangeloftheLordcamethatnight,hewastopassoverthehomeswherehesawthebloodofthePassoverlamb.
o TheBloodofthePassoverlambwasasignofthetrueLambofGodyettocome,Jesus.o IfwehavebeenwashedwiththebloodoftheLambofGod,whotakesawaythesinsoftheworld,we
toowillbesafefromthedeathofthesoul.C.Isaiah52:13-53:12–the“SufferingServant”
• ThepersondescribedinthispassagefromIsaiahhasbeennamed“thesufferingservant.”Itdescribesapersonwhowouldtakeuponhimselfthesinsofmany,inordertoredeemhispeople.
o Hewillbringgoodtidings,peace,salvationo Hewillbeliftedup,despised,woundedforourtransgressions,anofferingforoursin,andwillbearour
iniquities.o HeisdescribedasaLamb(53:7)
• ThebookoftheprophetIsaiahhasoftenbeencalled“thefifthGospel”becauseofitsaccuratedescriptionsofJesus–inparticularhissufferings.However,itisimportanttonotethatthiswaswrittenhundredsofyearsbeforeJesuscametoearth.
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D.The“LambofGod”
• AfterthePassover,theLambbecameasymbolofonewhowasslaininordertosavethepeopleofIsrael.ThisconceptbeganalsowithAbrahamandIsaac,butwasdeepenedwiththePassoverevent.TheeventofPassoverwascelebratedeachyearastheJew’sprimaryliturgicalfeast,therebymakingtheconceptoftheLambevermoreimportant.
• Astimewenton,TheLambofGodbecameanimportantconceptfortheJews.Theycametounderstandthatoneday,therewouldbea‘trueLamb’thatwouldcometoredeemthepeopleofIsraelonceandforall.
• AfterthePassover,thisconcepttookondeepermeaningasevidencedinthepassageofIsaiahcalled“theSufferingServant”
• ThisconceptbeginstotakeshapefurtherintheNewTestamentwiththepreachingofJohntheBaptisto UponseeingJesusforthefirsttime,JohntheBaptistcallsJesusthe‘LambofGod.’
§ Inhisday,thistermwouldhavehadgreatsignificancetotheJewswhoknewtheOldTestament.
§ TheyknewtheLordwouldprovideaLamb.TheyknewthatthisLambwouldatoneforthesinsoftheworld.
o CCC608:“Afteragreeingtobaptizehimalongwiththesinners,JohntheBaptistlookedatJesusandpointedhimoutasthe‘LambofGod,whotakesawaythesinoftheworld’.Bydoingso,herevealsthatJesusisatthesametimethesufferingServantwhosilentlyallowshimselftobeledtotheslaughterandwhobearsthesinofthemultitudes,andalsothePaschalLamb,thesymbolofIsrael'sredemptionatthefirstPassover.Christ'swholelifeexpresseshismission:‘toserve,andtogivehislifeasaransomformany.’”
• Furthermore,weseethisconceptasJesusasthe“LambofGod”isbroughttocompletioninthebookofRevelation.InthebookofRevelation,theterm“LambofGod”isused28times(incomparisonto4timesintheGospels).
o Revelation5-Weseewearecalledtoworship,honor,andgiveglorytotheLambthathadbeenslain.o Revelation7–ThebloodoftheLambsaves.OnlytheLambcanopenthescrollwiththeseal.TheLamb
isonathrone.TheLambwillwipeawaythetearsofthemartyrsandleadthemtoeverlastinglife.o Revelation13–TheLambistobeworshipedandthenamesofthoseinheavenmuchbefoundwritten
inthebookoftheLamb.o TheentirebookofRevelationisaliturgysurroundingtheLambANDtheweddingfeastoftheLamb.o ThisiswhywesayinMass:
§ “LambofGod,whotakesawaythesinsoftheworld,havemercyonus.”§ “BlessedarethosewhoarecalledtothesupperoftheLamb.”
E.MannaandWaterintheDesert-Exodus16:1-35
• TheIsraelitesbegantocomplainofhungerinthedesertafterleavingEgypt.SoGodprovidedthemwithmiraculousfood:
o Manna(miraculousbreadfromheaven)–inthemorning§ Mannaisaplayontheword‘man-hu’whichmeans“whatisit?”§ Itwasamiraculousbreadthatcamefromheaven.Theydidnotknowwhatitwasorwhereit
camefrom.EvenMoses,whohadpreviouslylivedinthedesertfor40yearsdidnotknowwhatitwas.
§ ThisissimilartotheEucharist–itismiraculousbread,givenbyGod.Itisextraordinaryfromheaven,andweareunabletoidentifyit.
o Quail(meat)–intheeveningo TheBreadandfleshforeshadowtheEucharist
• Themannatastedlikewaferswithhoneyo Thissignified‘theLandofmilkandhoney’,whichiswhattheycalledthePromisedLand.o Thisdetailofittastinglikehoneysignifiedthatitwasaforetasteofthegoodnessthattheywouldhave
infullnesslater.ThisisthesamewiththeEucharist.Itisa‘taste’ofheaven,ourtruePromisedLand.ItsignifiesthefullnesswewillonedaypossessinHeaven.
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• ThemannawasbotheatenandplacedinajarbeforetheArkoftheCovenantwithintheinnersanctuary–themostholyplaceintheMeetingTent.
o Theywerenotonlytoeatthemanna,buttolookatit,asavisiblesignofGod’sprovision.o ThisisalsoaforeshadowingofEucharisticAdoration.WenotonlyeattheEucharist,butwealso
contemplateandlookattheNewManna.• Themannawasgivenfortheirsurvivalinthedesert.
o Theyweregivenonlyenoughforeachday.§ Infact,theywereonlyallowedtocollectoneday’sworthofmanna,theexceptionbeingonthe
daybeforetheSabbath,wheretheywereallowedtocollecttwoday’sworth.§ Iftheycollectedextra,itwouldrotaftertheday–exceptontheSabbath,whereitwouldlastfor
anextraday.o ThisshouldremindusoftheOurFatherinwhichwepray:“Giveusthisdayourdailybread.”
§ Godgivesusjustenoughgraceandsustenanceforeachday.Hetellsusnottoworryabouttomorrow–Hewillgiveusgracesfortomorrowwhentomorrowcomes.
§ FortheIsraelitesandus,thisisanexerciseoftrust.They(andwe)hadtobelieveandtrustthatGodwouldinfactprovideforthemeachday.TheyhadtobelieveHewasafaithfulandlovingFather.Thisdaily‘test’wastohelprestoretheirfaithinGodasaFatherwholovesandprovideforhischildren.
• Itsustainedthemfortheentire40yearsthattheyweretravelingtothePromisedLand.o WhentheIsraelitesenteredthePromisedLand,themannaceased.Theywereoutofthedesertand
nowabletoeatfromthefruitsoftheLand.o ThePromisedLandrepresentsHeaven,andtheyearsinthedesertrepresenttheyearsofpilgrimageon
earth.Duringthistimeofpilgrimagethroughthedifficultdesertofourtimeonearth,theLordalsosustainsuswiththetruemannaoftheEucharist.
F.SummaryofOldTestamentSacrifices
• ThesacrificesofferedintheOldTestamentweremanyandvariedbutallhad4distinctivecharacteristicsaboutthem.WeseethatChristbringsalltheOldTestamentsacrificestofulfillment.
o Thesacrificeisofferedbyapriest.§ ChristhimselfistheeternalHighPriestthatoffersthesacrifice.
o Thevictimisanunblemishedmale.§ ChrististhevictimoftheEucharisticsacrifice.Heisunblemishedfromthestainofsin.
o Itisofferedfortheremissionofsin.§ ChristtrulyandforeverearnedtheforgivenessofoursinonCalvary.Weparticipateinthis
sacrificeateveryMass.o Thesacrificeisdestroyedinsomemanner
§ Thissignifiedthatthesacrificeisnotforourownuse,butforGod’s.OnCalvary,Christwas‘destroyed’–bothinthebrokennessofhisbodyandthroughhisdeath.
§ Wealsoseethatinordertomakethebreadandwine,thewheatandgrapesmustbegroundorcrushed(death).However,itisonlyinthis‘death’thatnewlifecomesforth.
• Afterthevictimofthesacrificewasusuallykilledandthenburneduponthealtar.Afterthis,itwasusuallyconsumedbythepriest.Thisconsumingofthesacrificeunitedthepriesttothesacrifice.
o Today,wealsoconsumethevictim–Christ–afterhehasbeensacrificedonthealtarduringMass.
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III.NEWTESTAMENTSCRIPTUREANDTHEEUCHARIST
A.John6• IttakesplaceneartheeventofPassover(v.4)• Itbeginswiththemiracleofthemultiplicationoftheloaves(v.1-15)
o Jesusprovidesthemmiraculouslywithtemporalgoods.Therefore,theywanttomakeHimking.o However,hedoesnotwanttobetheirkingbecauseHeprovidestemporalgoods;Hewantstobetheir
Kingwhogiveseternalgoods.o Therefore,Heleaves.
• The“BreadofLifeDiscourse”–(v.22-71)o InthethispassageofJohn6,JesusprogressivelyrevealsthatHeisthe“BreadofLife”–abreadthat
giveseternallife,abreadthatdoesnotpassaway.Healsorevealsthatthis‘bread’ishisflesh–which,notsurprisingly,scandalizeshisfollowers–somuchsothatmanydecidetostopfollowinghim,eventhoughthedaybeforetheywerereadytomakehimking.
o The3primary‘complaints’orprotestsoftheJewsduringtheBreadofLifeDiscourse.Eachofthese‘complaints’parallelsacomplaintmadeabouttheEuchariststilltoday.
§ Jesusis‘tooordinary’(v.41-42)• Theyknowwherehecomesfrom:TheyknowheisthesonofJoseph,theyknowhis
parents.Heisjustamanlikethem,yetheclaimstobethe‘breadthatcamedownfromheaven.’Buthelookslikeamanandseemstobejustanordinaryman.Howcanthisordinarymanmakesuchanextraordinaryclaim?
• Eucharisticparallel:TheEucharististoo‘ordinary’tobewhatitclaimstobe.‘Weknowwhereitcomesfrom”:itisjustbreadandwine.Weknowwhomadeit,wewatcheditgetmade.Itsmellslikebread,tasteslikebread,lookslikebread.Howcanwemakesuchanextraordinaryclaimaboutseeminglyordinarybread?
• Jesus’response:Hedoesnotgobackonwhathesays.Nordoeshecorrectapotentialmisunderstandingontheirpart.Hestickstowhathesaysandtellsthem,“Stopmurmuring.”AndthenherepeatshimselfagainANDtakesittoanewlevel:the‘bread’ishisflesh.
§ “Howcanthismangiveushisfleshtoeat?”(v.52)• Thisclaimdoesnotneedtoomuchexplanation–itspeaksforitself.TheJewswere
scandalizedthatJesuswouldnowclaimthatthe“bread”heisofferingisinfacthisflesh.• Eucharisticparallel:Stilltoday,peoplesaythesamethingabouttheEucharist:howcan
weclaimthatitisthefleshofJesusChrist?Itisabold,radical,andextraordinaryclaim.ButonethatwecanbelieveinbecauseoftheOnewhomakesit.
• Jesus’response:TheJewsunderstoodwhatJesussaid.IfJesuswasspeakingfiguratively,thiswouldhavebeenthemomenttocorrecthimselfandexplain.However,Jesusdoesjusttheopposite:herepeatshimself6moretimesindifferentwaystoindicatethatisexactlywhatHemeanttosay.Andhisrepetitionsuseprogressivelystrongerandclearerlanguagetomakehispoint.Furthermore,Healsobeginstouseastrongerwordfor‘eat’:onethatmeans“masticate”or“chewon”.TobeevenmoreclearthatHeisnotspeakingfiguratively,Heevenchangestheverbtomakehisdirectivemoreclear:youmusttrulyeatmyfleshanddrinkmyblood.
§ “Thisistoohard.Whocanacceptit?”(v.60)
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• Atthispoint,theJewsareoutofactualarguments.TheyknowwhatJesusissaying,andtheysimplyadmit‘itistoodifficulttobelieve.’
• Eucharisticparallel:JustasinthetimeofJesus,manypeopletodaysimplysaythatthisteachingistoohardtoaccept.Itrequirestoomuchfaithanddoesnotseempossibleorreasonable.
• Jesus’response:Again,Jesusdoesnotgobackonhisteaching,changeitormakeiteasierforthem.Hedoessaythatthe‘flesh’(humanthinking)cannotunderstanditonitsown.Weneedthe‘spiritthatgiveslife’toacceptandunderstandhisteachinghere.
o TheendresultoftheBreadofLifeDiscourse–ManypeopleleaveandstopfollowingJesus.(John6:66)
§ UponhearingJesus,manypeopleleaveandstopfollowingJesus.Itisimportanttonotethatthepeoplewhoheardthisandthenleftwerenothisenemiesorskeptics.Theywerehisdisciplesthatwerereadytomakehimkingjustonedaybefore.Aswell,theyweresotakenwithhim,thattheyfollowedhimacrosstheseatofindhim.Andyet,whenhegivesthisteachingtheyleave.
§ Eucharisticparallel:Itisstilltodayadifficultteachingtograsp–especiallyifwedonotfullyunderstandit.However,wearecalledtobelieveinthewordsofJesusbecauseweknowwhoHeis–God.Thisiswhywebelieve–evenifitdoesnotmakecompletesensetous.WecannotbelieveorfollowJesus‘onourownterms’–meaning,whenitiseasyorconvenientforus.Jesusisalwaysgoingto‘stretch’us,togetustomovebeyondourownlimitedunderstandingofwhoHeisandwhoweare.Wehavethechoicetoallowhimtodothisortocloseourhearts,therebylimitingwhatHecandoinandthroughus.
o TheApostlesresponsetoJesus’Teaching–Faith(Jn6:67-69)§ Afterthepeopleleave,JesusturnstotheApostlesandasksthemiftheytoowouldliketoleave.
Peterrespondsontheirbehalfwiththesegreatwordsoffaith:“Lordtowhomshallwego,foryouhavethewordsofeternallife.WehavecometobelievethatyouaretheholyoneofGod.”(Jn6:68-69)
• Hedidnotnecessarilyunderstandor“getit.”ButHebelievedthatJesuswastheChrist,andsohesimplytrustedinHimeventhoughhedidnotreallyunderstand.
• PeterandalltheApostlesmayhaveleftstillwondering,“Howishegoingtodothat?”and“Whatdidhemeanbyallthat?”Butregardless,theystillcontinuedtofollowJesus.Anditwasnotforatanotheryearthattheyunderstood–attheLastSupper.
§ Eucharisticparallel:WhenwebelieveJesussimplybecauseHeisGod,ourfaithisrewardedeventuallywithunderstanding.Butwemayhavetopassthroughatimewhenwedonotunderstand,wherewecontinuetofollowJesussimplybecauseweknowwhoHeis.
• SymbolismoftheBreadandtheFlesho TheBread:thenewManna
§ WhiletheywereinthedesertinEgypt,Godmiraculouslysustainedthemwithmanna,“breadfromheaven.”
§ Jesusclaimstogivethembreadthatisevenbetterthanthemiraculousmanna–abreadthattheywilleatand“liveforever.”(Jn6:32-35)
§ This“bread”sustainsusonourjourney/pilgrimagehereonearthonthewaytothePromisedLand–justlikeitdidforMosesandtheIsraelites.
§ "Asamanmustbebornbeforehecanbegintoleadhisphysicallife,sohemustbeborntoleadaDivineLife.ThatbirthoccursintheSacramentofBaptism.Tosurvive,hemustbenourishedbyDivineLife;thatisdoneintheSacramentoftheHolyEucharist."(Ven.FultonSheen)
o TheFlesh:thefleshoftheLamb§ HeisthenewPassoverLambthatsavesusfrometernaldeath,andcomestobringnewlife.§ JustlikeeatingthePassoverlambsavedtheIsraelitesfromdeath,sodoeseatingthenewLamb
saveusfromthedeathofhell.
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B.Mark14:22-24• TheLastSupper
o ThiswasacelebrationofthePassover–butinit,HeestablishesanewPassover.§ HebecomesthenewPassoverLambthatGodprovidesfortheirsalvation.
o Thiswaswhenhehadthem“eathisbodyanddrinkhisblood”§ Thisfinallyanswersthequestion,“HowwillHedoit?”
o WhenJesussaid,“Thisismybody,”JohnusestheGreekword‘tobe’whichhasaliteralmeaning,notasymbolicconnotation.
• Jesusputseverythingtogetheronthisnightandestablishesanewcovenantwithhispeople.o ReadLuke22:20
C.The“FourthCup”andtheNewPassover
• ThePassoverCelebrationinGeneralo TheLastSupperwasthecelebrationofthePassovermeal.o ThePassoverwasbrokenupinto4parts:
i. FirstBlessings–ThispartfocusedonthebitterslaveryinwhichtheywewereheldinEgypt.Theywouldeatbitterherbstoremindthemofthebitternessofwhichtheyhadbeenfreed.
ii. TherecountingofthePassoverstory–theeldestinthefamilywouldrecountthePassoverstory,andhowtheLordbroughtfreedomtohispeopleonthisnight.
a. Toendthissecondpart,theywouldsingthe“LittleHallel”(Psalm113)iii. ThePassoverMeal–duringthisparttheywouldeattheLamb,theunleavenedbread,andthe
3rdcupofwine(thecupofBlessing)a. ThiswouldhavebeenthebreadandwineoftheEucharist.b. Thispartconcludeswiththedrinkingofthe3rdcupofwine.
iv. Thesingingofthe“GreatHallel”–thispartistheclimaxofthePassovercelebration.a. Thispartisconcludedbydrinkingthe4thandfinalcupofwine–the“cupof
consummation”.Withthedrinkingofthiscup,thePassoverconcludes.o ThePassoverwasthelargestandmostimportantJewishfeast.
§ ThemostdevoutJewscametoJerusalemtocelebratethefeast.Jerusalemnormallyhadapopulationofabout100,000,buttheduringthePassoveritswelledto200,000-300,000.
o ThePassoverwasasymbolofafamilycovenantwithGod.§ WiththePassover,Godmadeacovenantwithhispeople,andtheIsraelitesbecamehisfamily,
hischildren.• TheLastSupper
o OnthenightoftheLastSupper,JesuschangesthePassoverritualwithhisApostles§ Thiswasamajordeal–itwasthemostimportantJewishfeast,andhadbeencelebratedinthe
samewayforthousandsofyears.Onecouldnotsimplychangeit.Yet,Jesusdoes.§ HechangedthePassoverin4significantways:
• TheWashingoftheFeeto DuringthePassoverritual,younormallywashedaperson’shands.o Thefeetwerethedirtiestandlowestpartofthebody,andthewashingofthe
feetwasusuallyreservedforthelowestofslaves.o Therefore,whatJesusdidwasunthinkableintheireyes.ThisiswhyPeter
objected.o Heestablishesanewcovenantofloveandservice:thisishowyouaretoserve
andloveoneanother.§ Atthismoment,healsoestablishedthepriesthoodandgavethemthe
modelofhowtheyweretoliveitout–throughhumbleandlovingservice.
• ConsecrationoftheBreado Hechangedthewordsofconsecrationoverthebread:“thisismybody”o Hechangedthecentralwordsatthecentralmoment.Thiswouldhavebeen
shockingfortheApostles.
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o Hetellsthemto“dothisinmemoryofme.”§ AtthePassover,theLordhadtoldthemtocelebrateitasa‘perpetual
institution’–inotherwords,‘forever.’§ WhenJesussays,“Dothisinmemoryofme,”heistellingthemthatthis
isthenewPassovertheyshouldcelebrateperpetually.o TheOldPassoverpassedaway,andthenewonebegan.
• BlessingoftheThirdCupo Jesussays,“Thisisthenewcovenantofmyblood.”o Withthesewords,hechangesthewordsofthePassovercelebrationanduses
theword‘covenant’–theONLYtimeintheNewTestamentthatJesususesthisword.
§ Covenantisthemostformalandbindinglanguage.Thismeansthatheisreplacingtheoldcovenant(OldTestament)withanewcovenant(NewTestament)
o TheBloodofJesusbecomesthenewcovenant–thenewfamilybond.WenowshareintheFleshandBloodofJesus.Itisnolongersimplyanadoptivefamilybond,butafleshandbloodrelation.
• Jesusdidn’tdrinkthe4thandFinalCupo ItwouldhavebeenunheardoftoleavethePassoverunfinished.Itislikenot
finishingtheMassatitsmostimportantpointandjustwalkingaway.o However,ontheeveningoftheLastSupper,theGospelofMarktellsusthat
‘whentheysungahymntheywentouttotheMountofOlives.’(Mk14:26)Thismeanstheyfinishedthe3rdcup,butnevergottothe4thandfinalone.Inotherwords,theyleftwithoutconcludingthePassovermeal.
o Infact,JesustoldthemthatHewouldnotdrinkwineagainuntilHedrinksitanewintheKingdomofGod.(Mk14:25)
o IntheGardenofGethsemane,Jesusspeaksofthe4thandfinalcup:§ “Father,letthiscuppassfromme,butnotmywillbutyoursbedone.”§ Aftertheycometoarresthim,andPetertriestostopthesoldiersby
cuttingoffoneoftheirears,Jesusaskhim,“ShallInotdrinkthecuptheFatherhasgivenme?”
§ Aswell,‘Gethsemane’means‘littlewinepress’o Aswewillsee,this‘skipping’ofthefinalcupispurposeful.Hewillnotdrinkthe
finalcupuntilthemomentbeforehediesonthecross.o Thesignificanceofthis–thePassoverisnotcompleteuntiltheLambdiesandis
sacrificed.JesusisthePassoverLamb,andHedoesnot‘end’thePassoveruntilhissacrificeiscomplete.
§ Onthecross,Hesays,“Ithirst”andtheygivehimaspongesoakedinsourwineonthebranchofahyssop.ThehyssopbranchwasthesamekindusedtosprinklethebloodofthePassoverLamb.
§ Afterdrinkingthiswine,hesays,“Itisfinished.”ThePassoverisnowcomplete.
• SummaryConclusion–PriestandVictimo Jesus,byallthis,showsthatHeisthetruePassoverLamb,whosavesusfromsin,death,andslavery.o Pilateorderedhiscrucifixionatthesixthhour,whichisthesamehourinwhichthePassoveroverlambs
werebesacrificedthroughoutthecityofJerusalem.ThisshowsJesuswasthesacrificialvictimofPassover.
o Aswell,theseamlessgarmentthatJesusworewasthesamewordfortheHighPriest’svestmentwhenhekilledthelambsforPassover.ThisshowsthatJesusisalsothepriestthatoffersthesacrifice.
o JesusisboththepriestandvictimoftheNewPassoverSacrifice.
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D.1Corinthians11:23-34–AccountoftheLastSupperbySt.Paul• ThispassageiswherewegetthewordsoftheConsecrationfromtheMass.• HecomparestheEucharisttothepagansacrifices,explainingthatwhenoneeatsthefoodofthepagan
sacrifices,oneisparticipatinginthesacrificeitself.Sotoowhenweeatthe‘food’oftheMass,weparticipateintheBodyandBloodoftheLord.
• Paulusesthewordremembrance:“Dothisinremembranceofme.”o InGreek,thiswordisnotsimplyarememberingaswethinkofittoday.o Itmeanstoactually“makepresent”bythatremembering.Bydoingitagain,itislikedoingthesame
thingastheoriginaltime.• St.PaultellsuswemustconfessoursinsbeforereceivingtheBodyandBloodoftheLord(v.28-30)
o Ifwedonot‘examineourselves’wereceivetheEucharistunworthily.o “OneveryLord’sDay,cometogetherandbreakbreadandgivethanks,firstconfessingyoursinssothat
yoursacrificemaybepure.Anyoneatvariancewithhisneighbormustnotjoinyou,untiltheyarereconciled,lestyoursacrificebedefiled.”(Didache14:1-4–FirstCenturyChristiantext)
• St.PaulalsotellsuswemustacknowledgethatittrulyistheBodyandBloodofChrist(v.29)o Theword‘discern’meansto‘perceivethedifferencebetweentwothings’.St.Paulissayingthatwe
mustdiscernorunderstandthedifferencebetweentheEucharistandnormalbreadandwine.Ifwedon’t–meaningweseetreatitonlyasbreadandwine-thenweeatanddrinkjudgmentonourselves.
o Thisisalsothereasonwhynon-CatholicsdonotreceivecommunionatMass.IfonedoesnotbelievethattheEucharistreallyistheBodyandBloodofJesus,thentheyaredoingmoreharmfortheirsoulthangood.
§ TheLordandhisChurchdesireeveryonetoreceiveHolyCommunion–butwiththepropermind,heartandbelief.
E.TheEucharistintheEarlyChurch
• DidtheearlyChurchbelievetheEucharistwasreallyJesus’BodyandBlood?Unequivocallytheydid.o “Becareful,therefore,totakepartonlytheoneEucharist;forthereisonlyonefleshofourLordJesus
Christandonecuptouniteuswithhisblood.”(St.IgnatiusofAntioch,107AD)o "Ihavenotasteforcorruptiblefoodnorforthepleasuresofthislife.IdesirethebreadofGod,whichis
thefleshofJesusChrist;…andfordrinkIdesirehisblood,whichisloveincorruptible"(St.IgnatiusofAntioch,LettertotheRomans7:3[A.D.110]).
o "TakenoteofthosewhoholdheterodoxopinionsonthegraceofJesusChristwhichhascometous,andseehowcontrarytheiropinionsaretothemindofGod....TheyabstainfromtheEucharistandfromprayerbecausetheydonotconfessthattheEucharististhefleshofourSaviorJesusChrist,fleshwhichsufferedforoursinsandwhichthatFather,inhisgoodness,raisedupagain.TheywhodenythegiftofGodareperishingintheirdisputes"(St.IgnatiusofAntioch,LettertotheSmyrnaeans6:2–7:1[A.D.110]).
o “Hedeclaresthatthecup,takenfromcreation,ishisownblood,bywhichhestrengthensourblood,andhehasfirmlyassuredusthatthebread,takenfromcreation,ishisownbody,bywhicharebodiesgrow…themixedcupandthebread…becomestheEucharist,thebodyandbloodofChrist.”(St.IrenaeusofLyons,secondcentury)
o "Donot,therefore,regardthebreadandwineassimplythat;fortheyare,accordingtotheMaster’sdeclaration,thebodyandbloodofChrist.Eventhoughthesensessuggesttoyoutheother,letfaithmakeyoufirm.Donotjudgeinthismatterbytaste,butbefullyassuredbythefaith,notdoubtingthatyouhavebeendeemedworthyofthebodyandbloodofChrist....(CatecheticalLectures22:6,9,St.CyrilofJerusalem,350AD)
o "Perhapsyoumaybesaying,‘Iseesomethingelse;howcanyouassuremethatIamreceivingthebodyofChrist?’…Christisinthatsacrament,becauseitisthebodyofChrist"(St.AmbroseofMilan,TheMysteries9:50,58[A.D.390]).
o "Whatyouseeisthebreadandthechalice;thatiswhatyourowneyesreporttoyou.ButwhatyourfaithobligesyoutoacceptisthatthebreadisthebodyofChristandthechaliceisthebloodofChrist.Thishasbeensaidverybriefly,whichmayperhapsbesufficientforfaith;yetfaithdoesnotdesireinstruction"(St.Augustine,Sermons,272[411AD]).
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IV.METAPHYSICSOFTHESACRAMENT
A.Transubstantiation• Theprefixtransmeans‘tochange’.Therefore,thewordtransubstantiationliterallymeans‘tochange
substance.’• AccidentsandSubstance
o Substance-athing’sactualidentity§ Theidentityofathingiswhatitis–regardlessofhowitlooksorappears.§ Intransubstantiation,thereisachangeoftheidentityofthe‘thing’:wegofrombreadandwine
totheBody,Blood,SoulandDivinityofChrist(hiswholePerson–divineandhuman).§ ThisisnotsymbolicorsimplyarepresentationofChrist,butChristhimself.
o Accident–apropertyofasubstance§ Forexample,theaccidentsofsnoware:green,volume,weight,cold,wet,soft,taste§ Forexample,theaccidentsofapencilare:blue,hard,thin,6incheslong,tubularshape§ Usually,whenthereisasubstantialchange(somethingchangesfromonesubstancetothe
other),theaccidentsalsochange.• Forexample:
o Theaccidentsofawoodenchair:hard,brown,shapeofachair,3feethigh,2feetwide
o Ifthewoodenchairisburned,thereisachangeinsubstance(itisnowash)alongwithachangeinaccidents:black,soft,lightinweight,smallinsize,bitterintaste,etc.
§ Themiracleintransubstantiation:thereisachangeinsubstancewithoutanaccompanyingchangeinaccidents.
• ThesubstancegoesfrombreadandwinetotheBody,Blood,SoulandDivinityofChrist.However,theaccidentsdonotchange:itstilllooks,tastes,andsmellslikebreadandwine.
• TotalChangeo Aftertransubstantiationtakesplace,thebreadandwinenolongerexist.
§ Everysinglepieceofbreadandwinedhavebeentransformed.o Christinhistotalityispresentonthealtar.o HeistotallyandfullypresentineachandeverypartandparticleoftheEucharist–evenifthepartsare
divided.o ItisaSacramentalPresence:inotherwordsitcomestousthroughthesignofbreadandwine.o ThePresenceofChristenduresaslongastheappearanceofbreadandwineremain.
B.Matter,FormandMinister
• Mattero Wheatbread
§ intheLatinChurch,itshouldbeunleavened.o Wine(mixedwithsmallamountofwater)
§ Thewinemustbefromgrapes.• Form:Thewords,“Thisismybody.”• Minister:Anordainedpriest.
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V.THESACRAMENTOFTHEBRIDEGROOMANDTHEBRIDE
A.Godwantsevenmore….
• Hedoesn’tjustwanttobewithus,HewantstouniteHimselftous,sothat“thetwowillbecomeoneflesh.”• Hewantstoliveinsideus,totallyunitedtous.Livingandbreathingwithinus.• HolyCommunionisthetruefulfillmentoftheScripturethatsays,“andthetwoshallbecomeoneflesh.”
o Itisthe‘SacramentoftheBridegroomandtheBride,inwhichtheBridegroom(Jesus)giveshiswholeBodyovertotheBride(us,theChurch),andtheBridereceivesHimbyofferingHimherbodyandheart.
o ThereisnomoreintimatemomentpossibletohavewithGod.B.TheChurchistheBrideofChrist
• Maryisalsothe‘SpouseoftheSpirit.”SheistheperfectrepresentationoftheBridethatistheChurch.• ReadEphesians5:25-32
o Eph5:25,31-32–“Husbands,loveyourwives,evenasChristlovedthechurchandhandedhimselfoverforher…‘Forthisreasonamanshallleave[his]fatherand[his]motherandbejoinedtohiswife,andthetwoshallbecomeoneflesh.’Thisisagreatmystery,butIspeakinreferencetoChristandthechurch.”
• IncallingtheChurchtheBrideofChrist,GodisrevealingthekindofloveHehasforeachoneofus–aspousallove.Helovesuspassionately,deeply.Heiswillingtogivehislifeforus.
• ThisimageoftheChurchastheBrideofChristhasexistedfromthebeginningandhascontinuedthroughoutsalvationhistory.
o Humanhistorybeginswithamarriage–thatofAdamandEve(Genesis1-3).o TheOldTestament–GodreferstohimselfasBridegroomandIsraelasBride
§ Isaiah62:4-5–“Butyoushallbecalled,‘MyDelight,’andyourland‘Espoused.’FortheLorddelightsinyou,andmakesyourlandhisspouse.Asayoungmanmarriesavirgin,yourBuildershallmarryyou;andabridegroomrejoicesinhisbridesoshallyourGodrejoiceinyou.”
§ Hosea2:16,18,21-22–“SoIwillallureher;Iwillleadherintothedesertandspeaktoherheart….Onthatday,saystheLord,sheshallcallme‘Myhusband’…Iwillespouseyoutomeforever:Iwillespouseyouinrightandinjustice,inloveandinmercy;Iwillespouseyouinfidelity,andyoushallknowtheLord.”
o FirstmiracleofChrist–theWeddingatCana§ Thecoupleranoutofwine.Justaswithsin,wetoo“ranoutofwine.”Byrejectingthe
Bridegroom,wefindourselvesemptyandinneed.§ ButJesuscamepreciselytorestorethelostrelationship,tohealthegreat“divorce”between
Godandman,betweenhusbandandwife.o ItendswiththemarriageoftheNewAdamandthenewEve(ChristandtheChurch)inthebookof
Revelation.§ “‘Revelation’istheusualEnglishrenderingoftheGreekapokalypsis;buttheGreekworkis
richerthanthat.Itismoreaccuratelytranslatedas‘unveiling’andwasusedbyGreek-speakingJewstodescribethemomentwhenthebridewasunveiledbeforeherhusband,justbeforethecoupleconsummatedtheirmarriage.So…wefindourselveswithJohnataweddingfeast.”(ScottHahn,Hail,HolyQueen,page49).
§ Revelation19:9-“BlessedarethosewhohavebeencalledtotheweddingfeastoftheLamb.”
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§ Revelation21:1-2,9–“ThenIsawanewheavensandanewearth.Theformerheavenandtheformerearthhaspassedaway,andtheseawasnomore.Ialsosawtheholycity,anewJerusalem,comingdownoutofheavenfromGod,preparedasabrideadornedforherhusband…Oneofthesevenangels…saidtome,‘Comehere.Iwillshowyouthebride,thewifeoftheLamb.’Hetookmeinspirittoagreat,highmountainandshowedmetheholycityJerusalemcomingdownoutofheavenfromGod.”
• “Bydescribinghimselfasa‘bridegroom,’JesusrevealstheessenceofGodandconfirmshisimmenseloveformankind.”(JPII,LettertoFamilies,18)
o JesusistheBridegroom,whocomestoearthtogivesusHimselfandHisdivinelife.HecomestogiveaGIFT.HeawaitstheresponseoftheBride.Hedoesnotimposeorforcehimself,butwaitsforustoFREELYaccepthisgift.
§ ThisiswhyMaryistheperfectionofallpeople–becausesheistheperfectBride,whogivesafiattotheLord,allowingHimtoenterherfullywithhispresence.
• TheBridegroom(Jesus)giveshisLifetotheBride.o HegivesitontheCross.o HegivesitintheEucharist.
• TheBride(theChurch)receivesthislife,guardingit,nurturingit,andhelpingittogrowandmature.C.TheChurchinheressenceisfeminine.
• ThoughtheChurchistheBodyofChrist,theChurchisfundamentallyfeminine.ThisiswhyMaryistheModelandImageoftheChurch.
o OurphysicalbodiesshowuswhythisistherealityoftheChurch.o Themalebodygivestheseedoflife–itcomesoutfromhim.
§ ThusheistheimageofGodtheFatherwhoistheGIVERofalllife.o Thefemalebodyreceivesthisseedfromtheman,andbringsitwithinher,nourishingtheseed,guarding
it,andhelpingittogrowandmature.§ ThuswomanistheimageoftheChurchwhoreceivesherlifefromGodtheFather(the
Bridegroom)andnourishesthislifeandallowsittogrowwithinher.• Theparableoftheseedandsower(Luke8:4-15)
o TheseedistheWord(Jesus)andwearethesoilthatreceivestheseed.o Whatkindofsoilarewe?
• “Allhumanbeings-bothwomenandmen-arecalledthroughtheChurch,tobethe‘Bride’ofChrist,theRedeemeroftheworld.Inthisway‘beingthebride’,andthusthe‘feminine’element,becomesasymbolofallthatis‘human’…IntheChurcheveryhumanbeing-maleandfemale-isthe‘Bride’,inthatheorsheacceptsthegiftoftheloveofChristtheRedeemer,andseekstorespondtoitwiththegiftofhisorherownperson.”(JPII,MulierisDignitatem25)
D.TheEucharististhe‘SacramentoftheBridegroomandtheBride’
• WecometoseethattheEucharististheconsummationofthetruemarriagebetweenChrist(theBridegroom)andtheChurch(theBride).
o Marriageonearth,betweenamanandwoman,isaforeshadowingoftherealmarriagethatwewillallhaveinheaven.
o ThisiswhyJesussaysthatmenandwomenwillnotbegiveninmarriageinheaven.• IntheEucharist,theBridegroom(Jesus)offershisBodytohisBride(eachoneofus).
o HecomesoutofHimself(masculine),andwereceivehim(feminine)intoourownperson.• IntheEucharist,the“twobecomeoneflesh”.
o Thisdescriptionofmarriage,giveninGenesisforthefirsttime,ismostfulfilledintheEucharist,wherewebecome‘oneflesh’withChrist,asweconsumeHimintheEucharist.
o “’Forthisreasonamanshallleave[his]fatherand[his]motherandbejoinedtohiswife,andthetwoshallbecomeoneflesh.’Thisisagreatmystery,butIspeakinreferencetoChristandthechurch.”(Eph5:31-32)
• Thisisoneofthereasonsthatonlymencanbepriests.
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o Theprieststands‘enpersonaChristi.’Thismeansthatthey‘standinthepersonofChrist.’TheyrepresentChrist,whoistheBridegroom,givinghisBodyforhisBride,theChurch.Therefore,onlyamalepriestcanfittinglyrepresenttheBridegroominapropermanner.
o Thisalsomakesitmoreunderstandablehowmanynon-CatholicChristianchurcheshavebegantoallowwomenministers–withouttheEucharist,theroleandidentityofthepriestlosesmuchofussymbolicsignificance;itbecomesananti-sign.ThepriestismeanttobeanotherChrist,offeringhimselfalsoasacrificeforhisBride,theChurch.ThisisdonemostfullyintheofferingoftheMassandtheEucharist.IftheMassandtheEucharistislost,thisfundamentalidentityofthepriestisalsolost,anditbecomeseasiertorationalizetheroleofministertoincludewomen.
E.TheEssenceofLoveisMutualSelf-Gift
• Beginningwiththe3PersonsoftheTrinity(whoisLove),wecometoseethat“Godhimselfisaneternalexchangeoflove,Father,SonandHolySpirit,andhehasdestinedustoshareinthatexchange.”(CCC221)
o Insimplisticterms,theFathergivesHimselftotallytotheSon,theSonreceivesthisself-gift,andrespondswiththetotalgiftofhimself.Theexchangeoflove/Personsbetweenthe2issopowerfulthatisbegetsanotherbeing–theHolySpirit.
o Love,then,isamutualself-gift.o Thismutualself-giftproduceslife(theHolySpirit)
• Thisisthemostfundamental‘pattern’oridentityofLove–amutualself-giftbetweenpersonsthatbegets(orproduces)life.
o ThisiswhywecansaythatLove,initsveryessence,isfruitful.• ThefirsthumanreflectionofthistruththatGodcreatedismarriage.
o Themanandwomangivethemselvestotheother–mutualself-gift–andthisproducesnewlife(achild).
o Marriageisthefirst‘image’oftheTrinity.• However,marriageitselfwasmeanttorevealadeeperreality–thespousallovethatGodhasforhumanity.
o HeisLove,andhegivesHimselfasagifttous.o Wereceivethegift,andofferourselvesagifttoHim.o Thismutualself-giftbetweenGodandmanproducesnewlife(spirituallyinoursouls).
• TheCrossandtheEucharistarethegreatestexamplesofLoveasmutualself-gift.o OntheCrossandintheEucharist,JesusoffershisBodyasagifttoeachoneofus.(Bridegroom)o We(theBride)receivethegiftandofferourselves(bodyandsoul)asagiftinreturn.
• Ittakes2o WeseethenthatwecannotsimplyreceivetheEucharistandthendonothing.Lovedemands(byits
nature)aresponse.o TheEucharistisnotsimplyaboutusreceivinggifts.Itisalsoaboutmakingourselvesagifttobegiven
backtoGod,inresponsetothegiftHehasgivenus(himself).o IfwedonotrespondtoGodwiththegiftofourself,thenthereisnoloveandnolife.Therelationshipis
sterile,unfruitful.o Anauthenticlovingrelationshiprequires2peoplethatchoosetolove,togivethemselvesawaytothe
other.§ Aone-sidedrelationshipinwhichonly1isgiving,andtheotherisonlyreceivingisnotareal
relationship.o Therefore,eachtimewereceivetheEucharist–todosohonestly,lovinglyandauthentically–wetoo
mustofferourlivesbacktoGodasalovingresponse.§ Otherwise,therelationshipissterile,cold,unlovingandunfruitful.Thereisnorelationship
becausethereisnomutualself-gift.
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VI.THELITURGY
A.Liturgy
• Thewordliturgyoriginallymeant“publicwork”ora“serviceinthenameof/onbehalfofthepeople.”• Nowwedefineliturgyas“theparticipationofthePeopleofGodinthe‘workofGod.’”(CCC1069)
o However,theremnantsoftheoriginaldefinitionstillremainwithinourcurrentdefinition:§ Itispublicandcommunalact–notaprivateonedonebyourselvesinourhomes.
o ItisGod’swork–notours§ CCC1073–“TheliturgyisalsoaparticipationinChrist’sownprayeraddressedtotheFatherin
theHolySpirit.”§ WeparticipateinwhatHeisalreadydoing.§ Wedonotinventit.
• Manypeoplewanttoinventtheirownliturgy,theirownChurchservices.Theywanttodoitthewaytheythinkitshouldbedone.
• TheywanttomakeGodintowhotheythinkHeshouldbe.• Thisiscompletelycontrarytoalltruth.WedonotchangeGodaccordingtoour
preferences.WemustallowGodtochangeusintohisimageandlikeness(likewearemadetobe).Wearemadeinhisimageandlikeness;Heisnotmadeinours.
§ Thesameistruewiththeliturgy–itishisworkthatweenterintoandinwhichweparticipate.WedonotinviteHimintosomethingwecreateourselves.
§ Godbreaksintoourworld,ourlives–notvisaversa§ Imagineinterruptingabasketballgameandchangingalltherulesandmakingpeopleplayit
yourway.B.ParticipationintheLiturgyofHeaven
• WeareparticipatingintheliturgyofHeaven.o CCC1090–“Intheearthlyliturgyweshareinaforetasteofthatheavenlyliturgywhichiscelebratedin
theHolyCityofJerusalemtowardwhichwejourneyaspilgrims,whereChristissittingattherighthandofGod,Ministerofthesanctuaryandofthetruetabernacle.”
o Thereisaperfectheavenlyliturgyconstantlygoingoninheaven.o Whenwedoliturgyonearth,weareparticipatinginwhatisgoingoninheaven.o CCC1139–“ItisinthiseternalliturgythattheSpiritandtheChurchenableustoparticipate
wheneverwecelebratethemysteryofsalvationinthesacraments.”• Throughtheliturgy,Christcontinuesourworkofredemption.
o Throughtheliturgy,wearemadeholy.o Itisthemosteffectivesourceoflifeforoursouls.Wecannothavedivinelifewithouttheliturgy.
• Itrequiresour“full,conscious,andactiveparticipation.”o “MotherChurchearnestlydesiresthatallthefaithfulshouldbeledtothatfullyconscious,andactive
participationinliturgicalcelebrationswhichisdemandedbytheverynatureoftheliturgy.SuchparticipationbytheChristianpeople…istheirrightanddutybyreasonoftheirbaptism.”(SacrosanctumConcilium,14)
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o Nothinghappenstousifwejust“showup.”Wehavetocome,readytoreceiveandparticipateinwhatisactuallytakingplace.
o Imagineifyouwenttoasportsgameandhadnoideaoftherulesorhowthegamewasplayed.Youwouldnotbeveryinterestedinthegame.
o Ifwearesupposedtogetwetfromtherain(thegracethatpoursonusinMass)andwegoinwithanumbrella,wewillnotgetwet.Itmightberaining,butitisnotgettinguswet,becausewehaveblockedthegrace.
§ WhenwedonotparticipateinMass,andwesimply“tuneout”,wearewastingthegracesthatarepouringuponus.
• Itisimportanttoknowwhatgoeson.ItisourresponsibilitytolearnwhatgoesontheMass,andintheliturgyingeneral.
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VII.THEMASS
A.TheCelebrationofMassintheEarlyChurch
• TheActsoftheApostles2:46,3:1o WereadthattheearliestChristianswenttotheSynagoguetohearthereadingsfromScripture(atthat
point,onlyreadingsfromtheOldTestament)onSaturdays.ThentheywouldgoonSundaystohomestocelebratetheBreakingoftheBread(Eucharist).
§ OnSundayswhentheywouldgather,undertheleadershipoftheApostles,theywouldtellstoriesofJesus(sincetherewasnoNewTestamentatthistime,onlyOralTradition).
o TheystillconsideredthemselvestobeJewsthatbelievedinJesusastheMessiah.o ThisestablishedthetwopartsoftheLiturgywestillusetoday:TheLiturgyoftheWordandtheLiturgy
oftheEucharist.• Soon,however,theChristianJewswereexpelledfromtheSynagoguesandtherewasaninfluxofGentile
Christians.Therefore,theyneededanewplacetoworship.Hence,thetwopartsoftheirliturgicalworshipwereunitedinonecelebrationonSundaymornings.
o Forthemostpart,thesefirstmeetingstookplaceintheprivatehomesofChristianswhoformed‘houseChurches’fortheearliestChristians.
o Notuntilthe4thcenturydidChurchesbegantobebuiltingreaternumbers.Upuntilthistime,ChristiansweresooftenpersecutedthatthebuildingofChurcheswasusuallynotpossiblebecauseofthethreatofdestruction.WiththelegalizationofChristianity,Churchesbegantobebuiltforplacesofworship.
• TheCelebrationoftheEucharistbySt.JustinMartyrin155AD.o Befamiliarwiththedetailsfromp.87whichexplainhowtheMasswascelebratedbytheearlyChurch.
B.ElementsoftheMass
• CCC1153-1162• Wordsandactions
o Words§ Wesayandexpresscertaintruthsthroughthewordsweuse.
• ReadingfromScripture.• Wordsofthepriest.• Wordsofthepeople.
§ Eachwordhasameaning.Whatwouldhappenifwebegantolistenmoretothem?o Ouractionsalsohavemeaning
§ WestandfortheGospelbecauseitismorethanimportantthantherest–itisanaccountofthelifeofJesusandthereforedeservesgreaterreverence.
§ WekneelduringtheconsecrationbecauseJesusiscomingdownfromheaven.§ ThepriestextendsoutwardhishandswhenprayingonbehalfoftheChurchtosymbolizethe
factthatherepresentsthewholeChurchinthatmoment.§ Thepriestextendshishandsdownwardandoverthebreadandwine,becausethisisasymbol
oftheHolySpiritcomingdown.• Thesamegestureof“layingonofhands”isusedinconfirmationandordinationstoHoly
OrdersasasymbolsoftheHolySpirit’sdescentonthatperson.
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• Singingo Musichasapoweroverthesoul.Itmovesusinawaythatwordscannot.o Wordsbecomemoreeffectivewhentheyareplacedtosong.
§ Wesingthepsalmsbecausetheywerewrittenassongsoriginally.o Weshouldsing!o “Singingisprayingtwice.”(St.Augustine)o Thesongsshouldcomefromscriptureorliturgicalsources.
• HolyImageso TheyhelptoraiseourmindstoGod,toremindusofHim,ofMary,oftheSaints,ofeventsfromtheir
lives.• Allthesethingscometogethertoprovideuswitharichliturgythathelpsourheartsandmindsenterintothe
mysterythatistakingplace.C.LiturgyoftheWord
• TheLiturgyoftheWordo ThisconsistsofthebeginningoftheMasstothegeneralintercessionso ThisfocusesontheWordofGodo TheLectionary(thatcontainsthereadings)andtheBookoftheGospelarevenerated.
§ Theyareprocesseddowntheaisle.§ Theyareputinaprominentplaceonthealtar.§ Theyareprocessedwithcandlesandincense.
o Theamboorlectern–theplacefromwhichwereadthereadingsandtheGospel§ Why?–theWordshouldbereadfromaproperanddistinguishedplace
o Itshouldbereadwithdignity,audibly,andintelligibly.o ThehomilyextendstheproclamationbyexplainingandspeakingabouttheWordthatwasproclaimed.
• PartsoftheLiturgyoftheWord(seep.88-89fordescriptionsandexplanations)o Entranceo VenerationoftheAltaro PenitentialRiteo Gloriao Collecto ScriptureReadings(1st,Psalm,2nd,Gospel)o Homilyo ProfessionofFaith(Creed)o GeneralIntercessions(Petitions)
• Butthenthefocusshiftsfromthelecterntothealtar….D.LiturgyoftheEucharist
• TheLiturgyoftheEucharisto ConsistsofthepartoftheMassbeginningfromtheoffertory(presentationofthebreadandwine)to
theconsecrationtocommunion.o Wenoticethatthefocusofwhereweactuallyareturnsfromthelectern,wheretheWordis
proclaimed,tothealtar,wheretheliturgyoftheEucharistwilltakeplace.o TheliturgyoftheWordismeanttoprepareusfortheLiturgyoftheEucharist.o TheConsecration–themomentthatthebreadandwinebecometheBodyandBloodofJesus.o Communion–whenwephysicallyreceivetheBodyandBloodoftheLordintoourperson.
§ ThemomentwhenLoveHimselfcomesintoourveryperson,tounitedHimselfwithus.o SeeCCC1348-1355
• PartsoftheLiturgyoftheEucharist(seep.90-91forexplanationsanddescriptions)o PresentationoftheOfferings(Offertory)o EucharisticPrayer:
§ Thanksgiving§ Acclamation(SanctusorHoly,Holy,Holy)
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§ Epiclesis§ InstitutionNarrativeandConsecration§ Anamnesis§ Offering§ Intercessions§ FinalDoxology
o CommunionRite:§ Lord’sPrayer(OurFather)§ RiteofPeace(SignofPeace)§ BreakingoftheBread§ AgnusDei(LambofGod)§ Communion
E.NamesfortheEucharist(seepage81-82inthetextbook)
• Eucharisto Comesfromwordeucharisteinwhichmeans‘givethanks’o Findsitsoriginsinthewordsoftheconsecration:“Whenhehadgiventhanks…”o St.IgnatiusofAntiochwasthefirsttousethistermin107AD.o Godgivesusthegreatestgift–Hisveryself.
§ Weoftendonotrecognizeitassuch,butthisisagreatandbeautifulmiracleoflove.o Theonlytrueresponsetoanunmeritedgiftisthanksgiving.
§ WhenwearetrulygratefulforthegiftofHimself,wedesiretoofferHimthegiftofourselvesinreturn.
§ Thisiswhathappensincommunion.HepresentsHimselfasLove,andweopenourheartsandbodiestoreceiveHim.
§ IfwearetrulygratefulandifwetrulyloveHim,wewillwanttoallowHimtochangeus,totransformus,tohealus.
• Lord’sSuppero BecauseofitsconnectiontotheLastSupper.o Alsoareferencetothe“WeddingFeastoftheLamb”thatistheheavenlybanquet.
§ Heavenwillbeaweddingbanquet,inwhichtheBridegroomisChrist,andtheBrideistheChurch.
§ ThisisanotherreasonwhySt.JohnPaulIIcallstheEucharist‘theSacramentoftheBridegroomandtheBride.”
• BreakingoftheBread(termfortheMass)o ThiswasthemostcommontermusedbytheEarlyChristiansafterPentecost.
• HolyCommuniono ItbringsusintocommunionwithChristandtheChurch,whichishisBody.
• HolyandDivineLiturgy(forMass)o MassisanactionoftheChurch
• HolyMasso ‘mass’comesfromtheLatinwordmittere,whichmeans‘tosendforth’.Thiscomesfromthelastwords
oftheMass,“Ite,missaest”,inwhichwearesentforth,transformedbytheEucharist,intotheworldtotransformit.
• BreadofAngels,BreadfromHeaven,MedicineofImmortalityo Withit,wereceivethespiritualgracesneedstoliveourChristianvocation.
• HolySacrificeorSacrificialMemorialo ItcompletesandbringstoperfectionthesacrificesoftheOldTestament.o EveryMassisaparticipationinthePascalMystery–thePassion,Death,andResurrectionofChrist.
§ ReadCCC1363o EverytimewecelebratetheEucharist,wegobacktoCalvary.o CCC1367–“ThesacrificeofChristandthesacrificeoftheEucharistareonesinglesacrifice:.."Andsince
inthisdivinesacrificewhichiscelebratedintheMass,thesameChristwhoofferedhimselfonceina
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bloodymanneronthealtarofthecrossiscontainedandisofferedinanunbloodymanner...thissacrificeistrulypropitiatory."
o Jesusisnotcrucifiedagain,butwearemysticallybroughttotheeventofthedeathandcrucifixionoftheJesus.
§ SinceHeiseternalandoutsideoftime,soishissacrifice.EachtimetheMassisoffered,themomentofCalvaryispresentonouraltar.
§ Whatdowedowhenwearethere?• Daydream?Remainindifferent?Notcare?Orallowourselvestoenterintotheevent?
o Thisisfullandactiveparticipation.§ Hehandshimselfoverforus,justasHedidattheLastSupperandthePassion.§ Hisbodyisbrokenonthealtar.
• Whenthepriestbreaksthebread.o WearealsopresentfortheResurrection.
§ WereceivetheresurrectedBodyofChrist–hislivingandgloriousBody.§ Hedesiresthatwe“rise”fromourwoundednessandfindnewlifeinHim.§ Hecomestoheal,restore,andbringhisjoyandpeace.
o WearealsopresentforPentecost§ Afterabout15minutes,theEucharisticBodyoftheLordceasestobeinus.
• ThisisliketheAscension.Heseemstoleaveus.§ However,HisphysicalpresenceisreplacedthepresenceoftheHolySpirit–justlikeat
Pentecost.
